Question

"_____________ is a precept, or general rule, found out by reason, by which a man is forbidden to do that which is destructive of his life, or takes away the means of preserving the same; and to omit that by which he thinks it may best be preserved." - excerpt from Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes, 1651 Which of these BEST fits in the blank found in the excerpt?

Answer 1

The correct answer should be "A law of nature " or "The law of nature"

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

The law of reason / Law of nature

Step-by-step explanation:

When reading the Leviathan, you can see that Hobbes calls "The law of reason" to a precept, or general rule, found out by reason, by which a man is forbidden to do that which is destructive of his life, or take away the means of preserving the same, and to omit that by which he thinks it may be best preserved.

According to Hobbes, this first rule or "Law of Nature" is discovered through reason and it can be summarized as "To seek peace, and follow it"